Just finished listening to it the first time all the way through. I picked up the album on Friday, but I was up in Iowa for the weekend canvassing for Bernie (a wholly separate revolution
), so I didn't get a chance to listen to it until tonight.
It's a lot to digest, so I don't even know if I should be posting after just one listen. Overall, after the first listen, I'd put this at least in the middle of the pack as far as DT albums go, but I often find that DTs music grows on me with time, so this could move up. I thought TGOM was mediocre when it came out, but by now, I think it's pretty awesome. I agree with what someone else said--the highs of this album are some of the highest in a very long time--possibly ever. I do think that some parts tend to drag on, though. Like a lot of recent DT albums, the cutting room shears could be put to use a bit more, and a better product would result. Some specifics:
The Good
- A New Beginning is just jaw-droppingly good. After my full 2:10 listening session, I went back and listened to this one again because I basically had to. Could be one of their best songs ever.
- This is easily James' best performance since his vocal chord injury--and perhaps ever. I don't miss at all the growlyer James from the SC/BC&SL era. His plan on this album was obviously to let loose that operatic voice of his, and his voice clearly works best in that register...to the point that it's pretty much astonishing.
- The mix is a lot better than DT12--there's more "space" on the mix, and you can hear a lot more detail.
- Second favorite song on the album was Our New World. Really super-charged riffs on this one, and a very fresh, new sound.
- Love Jordan's diversity of sound on this one. Lots of different synth/organ sounds that sound a lot cooler/funkier/appropriate/fresher than what I've heard before.
- I really love the NOMAC tracks. I know it's never going to happen, but I was disappointed in how short they were, and I would have really enjoyed it if they made an entire 4-5 minute song out of one or two of these. They ended just as I was getting in the mood for them.
- Mangini's drumming sounded more natural and less robotic on this album. Don't know if that was just the mastering, or a conscious effort.
- Some of the best JP solos of all time
- Even beyond A New Beginning, the entire last 4 tracks of Act I are phenomenal.
The Less Than Good- Act I seems to drag on a lot, especially toward the middle. There's probably some music in here that could be cut out; some stuff that sounds like filler like they were just trying to fill up the CD.
- I pretty much do not think that this album is very "accessible" to new fans. Not that rock operas tend to be, but Tommy at least had Pinball Wizard, 2112 had Overture/The Temples of Syrinx, and The Wall had a host of catchy songs. I don't think there's a song on here that could conceivably get airplay. I know most DT fans are of the "screw airplay" mind, but I don't think it would kill this band to write a radio hit or two to draw in some new folks. There's people I would like to attend DT shows with, but it's hard to convince them to come. All the best prog bands have at least a few radio hits: Yes, Genesis, Iron Maiden, and King Crimson all had multiples without really selling out. I thought maybe with David Campbell on board, there was a chance of getting one, but we didn't.
There's really not a lot of negatives though. It's the kind of incredibly dedicated work product one comes to expect out of DT. They really outdid themselves with this one. They deserve praise just for the amount of effort that went into this. They explored a lot of new sounds, but only bits at a time. The thing is, the parts of this album where they do go out there and take a risk seem to be kind of short, and I felt I wanted more of that (NOMAC tracks, and a couple of sections of songs that I can't remember now that sounded really fresh and unique, but quickly delved back into the stereotypical neo-classical/gothic/polyrhythmic/diminished/chromatic jams that are cool in the right places, but that DT has the tendency to overdo and put into almost every song).
I do think that I'll like this album more after repeated listens, though. But I'd say that its floor is at least DT average, with decent upside.
Topic: *Official* The Astonishing discussion thread (Read 519880 times)
